Kyrgyz Report: July 16, 1999

BAKAI RESIDENT ARRESTED FOR NON-PAYMENT OF TAXES.Under a warrent issued on 15 July by the Prosecutor General, President of Bakai Share-holders company, Mohammed Ibragimov was arrested by tax police. Bakai produces alcoholic beverages. Bakai Vice-president Sergei Ibragimov informed an RFE/RL correspondent in Bishkek that Mohammed Ibragimov is accused of concealing more than 300 million soms (approximately $7.5 million) in taxes. It is not clear whether the two Ibragimovs are related.

DESERTERS CAUGHT AFTER TWO DAYS OF SEARCH.Two armed soldiers who on 13 July left their army posts without permission were apprehended two days later in a village near Bishkek. According to the press service of the Interior Ministry, during their short flight the deserters, who were armed with two rifles, robbed a woman of 800 soms ($20).

RAILWAY DAMAGED AFTER HEAVY RAINS.Along the Bishkek-Balykchy railroad, more than five meters of track was destroyed by a landslide. As the Ministry for Emergency Situations reported, the landslide was caused by heavy rains in the night of 14 July. Reconstruction work initiated by the Transport and Communications Ministry is underway.

TAJIK REFUGEES RETURN HOME.On 15 July the Immigration Department arranged the return of a new group of refugees to Tajikstan. Mrs. Kerimbaeva of the Department reported that 100 ethnic Kyrgyz were sent to the Jerge-Tal region. At the end of the month around 150 refugees will be repatriated to Dushanbe, she added.

HEAVY RAINFALL CAUSES FLOODING.According to the Emergency Situations Ministry, on the night of 13.July heavy rains flooded more than 70 houses in three villages of Nookat rajon, Osh oblast. Four houses were completely destroyed. One bridge and sections of orchards were also devastated. The same rain caused lesser damages in Jalal-Abad oblast. The regional commission is working to assess the scale of destruction and losses.

PARTY LEADERS WORRY OVER FELLOW POLITICIANS.On 14 July, the Communist Party of Kyrgyzstan, the Democratic Movement of Kyrgyzstan, Social-Democrats, Socialist Fatherland and Agrarian-Labor Parties sent an appeal to president Askar Akaev. In their statement, the party leaders expressed deep concern over representatives of the Kyrgyzstan People's Party (KPP) who reportedly received ill-treatment from local authorities of the Yssyk-Koel oblast. The KPP delegation was forced to abandon their trip around the region last week after they were continuously prevented from meetings by local militia and security officials. As the leader of the Party Mr. Eshimkanov told RL correspondents, he and another members of the PKK were reprimanded for holding unsanctioned meetings.

As party officials from headquarters informed RL's Bishkek Bureau, the KPP group now plans to travel around the Chui region starting 15 July. They originally planned to visit 52 cities and towns around the country in 52 days and familiarize themselves with the situation of the people.

VACCINES FROM HOLLAND.The Red Cross of Holland will deliver 40,000 doses of vaccine against hepatitis. According to the Health Ministry, the delivery will officially occur on 15 July. As epidemic prevention, officials reported, there are 3,338 persons with different types of hepatitis registered in Kyrgyzstan.